The Power of Pitching and Persuasion (535-0-1)

Instructors

Laverne McKinnon

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 3220: Sa 10:00AM - 5:00PM

Overview of class

A successful pitch has less to do with a perfect formula. It has everything to do with you. People invest in you first, then your idea. The work is how you bridge what you care about with what matters to the person you're speaking to. There isn't one right way to do that. That hasn't changed. But the context has.

We're now living in a world where AI can draft your pitch, build your deck, and organize your thinking in seconds. The bar for content has lowered. The bar for connection has not. In fact, it's gone up. Because when everything starts to sound polished, the question becomes: can I trust you?

AI can help you get the words right. It can't make someone trust you. Trust is built when you're present and able to make an authentic human connection. You might be pitching a program, a partnership, a grant, a creative project, or a new direction for your work. You might be speaking to a board, a funder, a collaborator, or a room full of stakeholders.

This course focuses on both sides of the equation: crafting a clear, compelling pitch and developing the ability to deliver it in a way that lands. We'll work on understanding how you're perceived, strengthening your connection to what you're pitching, and building resonance with the people in the room. This course is experiential, not lecture based. You'll spend your time on your feet practicing and refining so you find a style that feels like you. Because in a world where anyone can generate words, the edge belongs to the person who can stand behind them.

Class is held on Saturdays from 10:00am- 5:00pm on the following dates:
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Saturday, December 5, 2026

Attendance in all sessions is mandatory.

Registration Requirements

Registration priority is given to students in the MSLCE program. External students may enroll with program permission.

Class Materials (Required)

Anderson, Chris (2016). Ted Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (This title is available for free if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription.)

Duarte, Nancy (2012). HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations. Brighton, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Press.

Class Materials (Suggested)

Bradberry, Travis and Jean Greaves (2009). Emotional Intelligence 2.0. New York: Talent Smart.

Cuddy, Amy (2015). Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges. New York: Little Brown and Company.

Cain, Susan (2013). Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. New York: Crown.

Chervet, Shelle Rose (1997). Words That Change Minds: Mastering the Language of Influence. Iowa: Kendall / Hunt Publishing Company.

Cialdini, Robert B (2021). Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion (Revised Edition). New York: Harper Collins.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required